Improved shade-rack



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NA PETERS, PHOTQLITMOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. u CA viv UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

GooDYEAE, JE.

IMPROVED SHADE-RACK.

Specification forming` part of' Letters Patent No. 38,205, dated April 14, 1863.

To all whom t lmay concern Be it known that I,l WILLIAM WEBSTER, of Morrisania, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Shadedacks and other Racks, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference bein g had to the accompanying drawings, which make a part ot' this specification.

The nature of my improvement consists ot' two parts: iirst, in the elnployment and use ot'an elastic or Iiexibleroller or pulley in racks, which, in consequence of its adhesiveness to t'ie axis and greater friction, holds a shade or other object connected with the rack more firmly, and with less strain upon the cord; second, in the employment and use in racks ot' an adjustable spring so constructed and ar ranged that any desired tension can be given to the cord or band.

To enable others to make and use my improvement, I. will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

Figures l and 2 ot' drawings represent a iront and side View ot' ashade rack and tixtures.

A represents an elastic or flexible roller rotating upon its axle A.

B represents a cord or band which passes around the roller A and another roller, O. Said roller O may also b'e made elastic or flexible and turn upon an axle, K.

'F represents the second part ot my im prove ment,vnamely, an adjustable springattached to or bearing on one side against the slide G, towhich is attached the rolleraxle A within the case or body ot' the fixture II. The other end or side ofthe spring is or may be secured by a wedge, I, or by some other device. Vhen tension has been given to the cord either by the applied stress ofthe wedge I acting upon the spring F, or by the wedge orits equivalent acting upon the slide G, if no spring is used the tension of the cord will cause the elastic or iiexible roller A to adhere to or bind the axle, creating a resistance or friction upon theaXle su tti cient to keep or retain the shade, &c., at any required height or position with very little strain upon the cord. Additional friction may sometimes be had by putting thin rubber J or its equivalent in between the side or sides ot' the roller A and the sides of the roller-bearings.

It will be perceived that thus by Iny improvement a great advantage is gained over the old method, in which an elastic and indexible brass or other rigid roller is used.

Having thus fully described the nature, con struction, and operation of my improvement, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim the use ot an elastic band around the circumference of rollers, as that is no part of my invention, for my invention contemplates an elastic pressure upon the axle of the roller.

What I claim as my invention and as a new manufacture, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The employment and use ot' an elastic or Aflexible roller in racks substantiall as herein 7 set forth and described.

2. The employment and use ot' an adjust able spring in racks, substantially as herein set l'orth and described.

WILLIAM WEBSTER.

Witnesses J'oHN R. MoIzIIos, JAMES A. DoEE. 

